Dowson's Saints set for 'pretty tasty' clash with Cardiff
Saints boss Phil Dowson expects Sunday evening’s Investec Champions Cup opener against Cardiff Rugby to be ‘pretty tasty’.
The black, green and gold march back into European action having reached the quarter-finals of the top-tier competition last season.
They will take on a Cardiff team who have won two of their three United Rugby Championship matches so far this season, seeing off Scarlets and Zebre before losing 29-5 at Leinster last weekend.
And Dowson knows the Welsh side will be heading to Northampton eager to upset the odds against Saints.
"They (Anglo-Welsh battles) are always pretty tasty and there's obviously no love lost between the Welsh and the English,” Dowson said.
“It's always going to be vociferous and edgy and we're excited about that because they're the best ones to play in."
So what is Dowson expecting from Cardiff?
"They're a very high-quality side, an attacking side and they want to play fast as well,” he said. “They've got a great attacking kicking game with (fly-half) Callum Sheedy.
“Cardiff, with the heritage and history they have, over the past couple of years they've been on the up and up.
“There's been some question marks over Welsh rugby but Cardiff have really been flying the flag and have been one of those sides who have been showing how good Welsh rugby can be.
"When we played the Scarlets here, they were excellent. Another side with huge history.
“Cardiff are another side who are incredibly well supported, a vociferous crowd and it's what we want - to play sides we haven't played for a while.
“I've heard we haven't played them for 16 years so these are special occasions.”
After hosting Cardiff, Saints will have two trips to France in the pool stages as they go to Stade Français and Montpellier before hosting South Africa giants Vodacom Bulls.
"You get two huge French sides away and they're always huge challenges but things we relish,” said Dowson when asked about the make-up of this season’s pool.
“Cardiff will be coming here to upset us and get stuck into us and show their capability both in attack and defence.
“The Bulls again, we seem to have a long relationship with them. South Africa is the best international team at the moment and a lot of those players will be playing here.”